Glarus Canton Attractions
To the south of the picturesque Walensee the little canton of Glarus, occupies the basin of the River Linth, one of the most beautiful transverse valleys in the Alps, with the ridge of Glärisch (2,332 m/7,651ft) rearing above it on the west and the massive bulk of Tödi (3,614 m/11,858ft) closing its southern end. Surrounded on three sides by mountains, the canton is linked with the neighboring canton of Uri by a road which runs southwest from Linthal over the Klausen pass.
The 37,000 inhabitants of the canton (area 685 sq. km/264 sq. mi), the land of St Fridolin, who appears on Glarus' coat of arms, are an independent-minded race, formed by this rugged mountain world. Industry (in particular the cotton industry; spinning, weaving, colored prints) established itself here at an early stage, using the water-power provided by the Linth. The main valley is served by a branch railroad line from Zurich to Chur at Ziegelbrücke. From Linthal there is a cableway to the traffic-free resort of Braunwald, and there is a bus service from Schwanden to Elm in the Sernf valley.
From 1288 Glarus was under Habsburg jurisdiction, and after repeated threats to its independence became the sixth canton to join the Confederation. Since 1387 the cantonal meeting (Landesgemeinde) has been held every year in the Zaunplatz in Glarus on the first Sunday in May. In 1388 the men of Glarus finally shook off the Habsburg yoke by their victory in the Battle of Näfels. During the Reformation the canton was divided into two cantons, one Protestant and the other Catholic, but the two halves were reunited under the 1836 constitution.
Local culinary specialities are Schabzieger, a herb cheese, and Glarner Pasteten (fruit tarts).
The 37,000 inhabitants of the canton (area 685 sq. km/264 sq. mi), the land of St Fridolin, who appears on Glarus' coat of arms, are an independent-minded race, formed by this rugged mountain world. Industry (in particular the cotton industry; spinning, weaving, colored prints) established itself here at an early stage, using the water-power provided by the Linth. The main valley is served by a branch railroad line from Zurich to Chur at Ziegelbrücke. From Linthal there is a cableway to the traffic-free resort of Braunwald, and there is a bus service from Schwanden to Elm in the Sernf valley.
From 1288 Glarus was under Habsburg jurisdiction, and after repeated threats to its independence became the sixth canton to join the Confederation. Since 1387 the cantonal meeting (Landesgemeinde) has been held every year in the Zaunplatz in Glarus on the first Sunday in May. In 1388 the men of Glarus finally shook off the Habsburg yoke by their victory in the Battle of Näfels. During the Reformation the canton was divided into two cantons, one Protestant and the other Catholic, but the two halves were reunited under the 1836 constitution.
Local culinary specialities are Schabzieger, a herb cheese, and Glarner Pasteten (fruit tarts).
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Glarus (city)
(Linth Valley)
Glarus was destroyed by a fire and rebuilt in 1861 and beyond. There are many fine buildings from this time period, including an 1866 Neo-Romanesque church.
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Glärnisch
(Linth Valley)
The rock walls of Glärnisch rise above the scenic road that follows the lake. Some of the peaks stand at more than 2,900 m.
Klausen pass road to Altdorf
There is a magnificent drive over the Klausen pass from Linthal to Altdorf in the canton of Uri (48km/30mi). The road built in 1893-99 on the line of an old bridle-path, has a maximum gradient of 8.5% (1 in 12) and is usually open from June to November.
Urnerboden
10km/6mi from Linthal the road crosses the Scheidbächli, a stream which has marked the boundary between the cantons of Glarus and Uri since 1196, and comes to the Urnerboden (1,313-1,400 m/4,308-4,593ft), a meadow-covered high valley some 7km/4mi long through which flows the Fätschbach, following an almost level course for 4km/2mi.
